Crankcase (G.I. Joe)

Crankcase
G.I. Joe character
Illustration of Crankcase from G.I. Joe: Order of Battle. Art by Herb Trimpe.
First appearance	1985
Affiliation	G.I. Joe
Specialty	A.W.E. Striker Driver
File name	Indiana, Elwood G.
Birth place	Lawrence, Kansas
SN	451-61-5102
Rank	E-4 (Corporal)
Primary MOS	Motor Vehicle Driver
Secondary MOS	Armor

Crankcase is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's A.W.E. Striker driver and debuted in 1985.

His real name is Elwood G. Indiana, and his rank is that of corporal E-4. Crankcase was born in Lawrence, Kansas.

Crankcase's primary military specialty is motor vehicle driver, and his secondary military specialty is armor. He was building street machines by the age of thirteen and racing them at sixteen. He worked the stock car circuit for years, until a recruiting sergeant signed him up with promises of speed and glory. Crankcase graduated from Ranger School and Desert Warfare School, and attended the Special Air Service Tactical Driving School under the NATO Exchange program. He is a qualified expert in the M-16, M-1911A1, M-60, and TOW.

Crankcase was first released as an action figure in 1985, packaged with the A.W.E. Striker vehicle.

In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, he first appeared in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #44 (February 1986). He is part of a training group with Bazooka, Airtight and Heavy Metal. They are led by Lady Jaye. The four's efforts in fighting a Cobra-led weapons-testing attack earns them battlefield promotions into the team. Later, he is part of a small team of Joes who are attacked by Raptor and Cobra Commander.